Between 2018 to 2019, 7.1 million students between 3 to 21 years old received special education services. This equals 14% of total public school enrollment!
You might already know that many public schools are lacking when it comes to adequate education for their students. Needless to say, those with special needs require even more attention and care so they can have a successful future.
Because of that, there’s a demand for special education teachers.
Are you interested in learning what a special education teacher does? Then read on. You just might find that it’s the perfect career for you!
What a Special Ed Teacher Does
Special ed teachers cater to students who have disabilities. This can range from learning and mental disabilities to physical ones. As you can see, a special education teacher needs to wear many hats to accommodate the needs of each student.
These teachers are in charge of developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which are customized for every student. The goal of these programs is to help special ed students develop the skills needed for a brighter future.
These educators will share these IEPs with several other adults, including the children’s parents, school administrators, and other general education teachers. They’ll continually sit down with the parents to give them direction on how to keep their children learning at home.
Read this article to find out more about specific curriculum for special ed classrooms.
How to Become a Special Ed Teacher
Are you interested in becoming a special education teacher? Then you need to have the right credentials before you get started.
SPED jobs require that you have a bachelor’s degree. You’ll also need a state-issued license or certification. After that, you need to complete a teaching preparation program that’ll get you ready for real classroom teaching.
If you decide to work in a private school, you might find that the schools don’t require you to have a state license or certification.
When you’ve completed the preparation program, you can then get a preliminary credential. This is usually valid for 5 years.
If you want to continue working as a special ed teacher, then you have to continue this job for at least 2 years. You’ll also have to keep taking continuing education courses to get your permanent teaching credential.
Do note that in some states, you can get emergency credentials if you’re taking a job that’s been hard to fill.
Become a Special Education Teacher
Now that you know what a special education teacher does, does it seem like a good career for you? While it can be challenging at times, it’s certainly rewarding to see special ed students flourish under your guidance.
So if it seems like SPED teaching is for you, get started on this new exciting career by getting a bachelor’s degree (if you don’t have one) and completing training!
If you enjoyed this article on what a special ed teacher does, then make sure you take a look at the rest of our blog page!
